Garage lift gate



Sept. 28, 1965 E. DCRING GARAGE LIFT GATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.24, 1962 INVENTOR mm Mm;

ATTORNEYS Sept. 28, 1965 E. DCjRlNG 3,208,108

GARAGE LIFT GATE Filed Aug. 24, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR mm M/r/MATTORNEYS United States Patent 0 3,208,108 GARAGE LIFT GATE ErichDiiring, Thaihachstrasse 8, Moosburg, near Munich, Germany Filed Aug.24, 1962, Ser. No. 219,239 Claims priority, application Germany, Aug.3%, 1961, IT 20,473 3 Claims. (Cl. 2tl16) The present invention relatesto a garage lift gate, the gate plate of which can be shifted from itsclosing position by means of a tilting movement caused by an upper and alower guide device, combined with a translatory movement, in anessentially horizontal retracted position near the ceiling.

Doors with a gate plate pivotable over the head and guided at the bottomby a guide rod pair and at the top by rollers and rails, are alreadyknown. The guide rods are generally double-armed, whereby on the oneshort free end of the arm a counterbalance weight is arranged.

Thus such a construction makes use of a double arm guide rod pairengaging on the one hand a middle point of the height of the door frameand on the other hand at the lower extremity of the gate plate. Thesecond guide of the gate plate is obtained by a pair of rollers or pinsengaging at the upper extremity, which pins or rollers run inhorizontally suspended rails.

The rails extend far into the room, but must be sus pended at theceiling and propped against each other, so that the rollers do not leavethe rails.

This is why a second pair of guide rods was already provided instead ofthe rollers and rails. This pair engages likewise at the middle of theheight of the gate frame, is di ected upward and has at the upper end aroller each which runs in a guide rail fastened on the gate plate. Thevertical movement of the upper guide rods is limited by chains fastenedon the gate frame. All the parts are fastened on the gate frame and thegate plate is suspended freely in the space in its open position. Inthis known gate the upper guide device has little lateral rigidity anddoes not allow in any case a movement obtained by force.

The gate according to the invention is characterized by the combinationof the following features:

(a) the lower guide device comprises a double-armed levers which arepivotably carried at a fixed location at the middle height of the gateframe and the longer arm of which is linked to the lower extremity ofthe gate plate, while a tension spring is fastened on the shorter end ofthe arm, the other end of the spring being fastened on an abutment atthe lower extremity of the gate frame, whereby the tension springs runlaterally from the gate plate behind its frame.

(b) the upper guide device comprises lateral lever arms forming a pairof scissors, whereby the one extremity of the pair of scissors isfastened on the frame adjacent to the upper extremity of the gate platepivotally mounted at a fixed location, while the other extremity of thescissors is fastened pivotably on the lower longer arm of the doublearmed lever of the lower guide device and on the upper arm of thescissors or on the extended lower arm of the scissors a guide rollereach is suspended in a floating manner.

(0) on the rims of the gate plate, guide or running "ice rails arefastened to form a race for the guide rollers.

(d) the gate plate forms together with a gate frame one mobile unithaving the abutments for the tension springs, as Well as the bearingblocks for the double armed levers of the lower guide device and for thescissors levers of the upper guide device respectively are fastened onthe gate frame.

By means of the invention an assembly including an overhead swinginggate plate or door is provided which has considerable advantages whencompared with prior gate assembly constructions. The gate plate is movedby a lower and an upper guide device on a path enforced by said twoguide devices. Said path can be determined in such a way that the gatecan be built in without any difi'n culties also into garages withlimited space encountered in use today. Because there are no parts onthe door frame protruding into the space occupied by the door, the gateplate can be supplied to the building site mounted in its frame so thatno special fittings are necessary for mounting the gate assembly. Theoperations necessary to mount said assembly are limited to a minimum. Bythe special guide of the gate plate the gate itself becomes sufficientlyrigid. In addition, the structure of the invention permits the path ofthe gate plate during opening and closing to be changed quickly andeasily by changing the points at which the scissors levers are fixedlysecured on the double arrned lever of the lower guide device and thearrangement of the guide rollers on the scissors arms.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a consideration ofthe specification and claims.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of the mounted gate assemblywith the gate plate in halfopened position;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic vertical section corresponding to the positionof'the gate in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section along the line HIIII of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic vertical section with the gate plate indifferent positions.

The gate assembly of the invention is designated generally by referencecharacter 20 in FIG. 1 and comprises a gate frame 1 of substantiallyrectangular construction including a pair of vertical framing standards22, 24 and a pair of horizontal framing standards 28 being the lowerhorizontal standard. The gate frame 1 is adapted to be secured within anopening 30 formed in the wall of a garage or like gated enclosure andbeing of size and configuration complementary to that of said frame 1. Agate plate 2 is provided which is adapted to be supported within saidgate frame 1 for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis relative to saidopening 30 for operation of the assembly 20. The gate assembly 26) alsoincludes guide means generally designated by reference character 32 anddisposed adjacent opposite side edges of the gate plate 2 and the gateframe 1 for defining a path of movement of said gate plate 2 relativesaid gate frame l. for opening and closing of said gate assembly. Forthe purposes of this description, the structural mechanism of theinvention will be described with reference to that disposed along oneside edge of the gate assembly, the other mechanism disposed along theopposite side edge thereof being identical thereto in structure and inoperation, both mechanisms operating in the same manner simultaneouslyto operate the gate assembly 26.

The guide means 32 comprises a lower guide device 3 and an upper guidedevice 11. The lower guide device 3 comprises a lever 4- having a pairof opposite ends 4' and 4". Said lever 4 is supported pivotally on thehearing block 5 at a location 5' between said ends 4 and 4" to define along arm 6 and a short arm 8 of said lever 4, which lever may behereinafter referred to as a doublearm lever. The long arm 6 of thedouble arm lever 4 is secured pivotally to a link 34 as shown at 7, saidlink 34 being fixedly secured to the lower extremity of the gate plate2. The shorter arm 8 of the double-arm lever 4 carries one extremity ofa tension spring 9 fixedly secured thereto closely adjacent the end 4"of said double-arm lever 4. The opposite extremity of the tension springg is fastened to an abutment 10 which is fixedly secured to the lowerextremity of the vertical framing standard 22 at a position in thevicinity of the lower extremity of the gate plate 2 assumed when thegate assembly is in closed condition. Thus, in said closed condition,the tension spring 9 may be said to be disposed laterally relative thegate plate 2 and substantially parallel to said vertical standard 22 ofthe gate frame 1.

The upper guide device 11 comprises lateral lever arms 12 and 13.Lateral arm 12 has a pair of opposite ends 12 and 12", and, likewise,lateral arm 13 has a pair of opposite ends 13' and 13". Lateral arm 13is secured pivotally at one end 13' thereof to upper bearing block 14which, in turn, is fixedly secured to the upper extremity of thevertical standard 22 in the vicinity of the upper extremity of thevertical standard 22 at the vicinity of the upper extremity of the gateplate 2 assumed in the closed position of the gate assembly 20. Theopposite end 13" of said lateral arm 13 is secured pivotally to lateralarm 12 at a location 16 between the ends 12' and 12" thereof. Lateralarm 12 is secured pivotally at one end 12' to arm 6 of double arm lever4 at location 16' chosen between the bearing block 5 and the end 4thereof. The other and opposite end 12 of lateral arm 12 carires guideroller 15 floatingly secured thereon for independent rotation along therace 36 to be described. Thus one could describe the arrangement oflateral arms 12 and 13 of the upper guide device 11 as forming ascissors with the longer blade arms terminating respectively at ends 12'and 13, and the single handle" arm terminating at end 12" of arm 12,with the point of pivot located at the junction 16 of end 13" of arm 13and the arm 12.

A running rail 17 is secured to said gate plate 2 adjacent the side edgethereof and is adapted to provide a race 36 for the guide roller 15.Such running rail 17 preferably is formed as a U-shaped member, thebottom portion 38 thereof engages the inner surface 40 of the gate plateand is secured thereon, as shown in FIG. 3, by any conventionalfastening means (specifically not shown). The running rail 17 may besecured to the gate plate along the edge of the lateral rim thereof or,with equal advantage, only one leg thereof need be secured to surface40. The length of the rail 17 is chosen to be less than the length ofsaid side edge whereby the lower extremity of the gate plate is free ofsuch rail.

By varying the location 16' and the arrangement of the guide roller 15on arm 12, it is possible to predetermine the path to be followed by thegate plate 2 during the operation of the gate assembly 20 whereby thedepth of entry of the gate plate 2 interior of the building iscontrolled.

It should be noted that the gate plate and gate frame are preferablyformed of metal although other material may be suitable. Preferably, thelevers comprising the upper and lower guide devices are formed of flatiron in which case the bending thereof is performed by pressing in wellknown manner.

Also, while the guide roller 15 is shown and described as secured to thelateral arm 12, attachment of said roller to arm 13 at a suitablelocation thereon would likewise result in enjoyment of the advantage ofthe invention.

The adjustment of the pivot point 16' and the position of the guiderollers may be made by utilizing various of the apertures 50 on the arms12 and 3 This common type of pivot point adjustability is shown in theUS. Patent to McFarlane, No. 2,557,833, issued June 19, 1951. Othervariations in the structure, arrangement of parts dimensions, etc. mayoccur to the skilled artisan without departing from the concept andscope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. A lift-gate assembly for a gated enclosure comprising a gate plate, agate frame of size and configuration for accommodating said gate platetherein and adapted to be set in an opening of complementary size andconfiguration formed in the wall of said gated enclosure, a pair ofabutments and a pair of upper and a pair of lower bearing blocksrespectively secured on said frame along opposite vertical sidesthereof, a pair of doublearm levers and a pair of pivotally connectedlateral lever arms, a pair of guide rollers each respectively securedfor rotation to one of each pair of said lateral lever arms, a pair ofstraight-running rails adapted to form a race for said pair of guiderollers and fastened respectively adjacent opposite side rims of saidgate plate, and tension springs disposed laterally relative to saidgate-plate and adjacent respectively opposite vertical side edgesthereof, said double arm levers being pivotally secured respectively tothe lower one of said bearing block pairs, said lower one of saidbearing block pairs being secured fixedly to said frame at a locationsubstantially midway between the extremities of said vertical sidesthereof, the double-arm levers each consisting of a longer arm and ashorter arm, the longer arm of each being secured to said gate plateadjacent the lower extremity thereof and the shorter arm of each havingone extremity of the tension spring secured at the free end thereof, theother extremity of each of the tension springs being secured to arespective abutment, said abutment being fixedly secured to said frameclosely adjacent the lower extremity of the gate plate assumed duringclosed condition of the gate assembly, said arms of each of the laterallever arm pairs pivotally secured to the other, each forming a scissorsarrangement having a first point of pivot, one of the scissors armsbeing pivotally secured to a respective one of said upper bearing blockpair, the other of the scissors arms each being fastened respectively tothe longer arms of said double arm lever pairs at a second point ofpivot, said guide rollers each being fioatably carried respectively onone of the arms of the scissors opposite the ends thereof secured to thedouble arm levers, said guide rollers adapted reciprocably to move alongthe races defined by said pair of running rails whereby the path ofmovement of said gate plate permits to the least depressed entry of thegate plate fully within the gated enclosure.

2. The lifting gate structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said guiderollers each are carried on the end of the respective scissors arm whichis pivotally connected at its opposite end to the double lever arm.

3. In a lifting gate assembly for garages and the like gated enclosures,including a gate plate, a gate frame, abutments and bearing blocksfastened respectively on opposite sides of said gate frame, double-armedlevers and lateral lever arms, guide rollers, straight running rails forsaid guide rollers and fastened on the rims of said gate plate, andtension springs running laterally at the side of said gate plate closelyadjacent said gate frame, the lower one of said bearing blocks fixedlysecured to said gate frame at a location at the middle of the height ofsaid gate frame, the upper one of said bearing blocks being fixedlysecured to the upper extremity of said gate frame, the abutments beingsecured to the lower extremity of said gate frame, the double-armedlevers being pivotally secured to said lower pair of bearing-blocks withthe longer arms thereof being linked to the lower extremity of said gateplate respectively adjacent opposite side edges thereof, the shorterarms thereof being secured to the upper extremities of said tensionsprings, the lower extremities of said tension springs being secured tosaid abutments respectively; the invention comprising, said scissors armalbeit to permit selective and predetermined variation in the path ofmovement defined for said gate plate within said enclosure duringoperation of said gate assembly to dispose the gate plate entirelywithin said lateral lever arms arranged in pairs to form a pair of 5enclosure.

scissors, the ends of the upper scissors arms being pivotally securedrespectively to said upper bearing blocks closely adjacent the upperextremity of said gate plate, the ends of the lower scissors arms beingsecured to the longer arms of said double-armed levers at a point ofpivot, and the upper ends of the lower scissors arms having guiderollers secured thereto at a location selectively adjustable whereby tobe movable along a path of movement along said straight running rails,said point of pivot being capable of selective adjustment in concertwith the change in location of said rollers on said lower ReferencesCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/41 Allen 2019 McFarlane2()l6 FOREIGN PATENTS 5/56 Germany.

1. A LIFT-GATE ASSEMBLY FOR A GATED ENCLOSURE COMPRISING A GATE PLATE, AGATE FRAME OF SIZE AND CONFIGURATION FOR ACCOMMODATING SAID GATE PLATETHEREIN AND ADAPTED TO BE SET IN AN OPENING OF COMPLEMENTARY SIZE ANDCONFIGURATION FORMED IN THE WALL OF SAID GATED ENCLOSURE, A PAIR OFABUTMENTS AND A PAIR OF UPPER AND A PAIR OF LOWER BEARING BLOCKSRESPECTIVELY SECURED ON SAID FRAME ALONG OPPOSITE VERTICAL SIDESTHEREOF, A PAIR OF DOUBLEARM LEVERS AND A PAIR OF PIVOTALLY CONNECTEDLATERAL ARMS, A PAIR OF GUIDE ROLLERS EACH RESPECTIVELY SECURED FORROTATION TO ONE OF EACH PAIR OF SAID LATERAL LEVER ARMS, A PAIR OFSTRAIGHT-RUNNING RAILS ADAPTED TO FORM A RACE FOR SAID PAIR OF GUIDEROLLERS AND FASTENED RESPECTIVELY ADJACENT OPPOSITE SIDE RIMS OF SAIDGATE PLATE, AND TENSION SPRINGS DISPOSED LATERALLY RELATIVE TO SAIDGATE-PLATE AND ADJACENT RESPECTIVELY OPPOSITE VERTICAL SIDE EDGESTHEREOF, SAID DOUBLE ARM LEVERS BEING PIVOTALLY SECURED RESPECTIVELY TOTHE LOWER ONE OF SAID BEARING BLOCKS PAIRS, SAID LOWER ONE OF SAIDBEARING BLOCK PAIRS BEING SECURED FIXEDLY TO SAID FRAME AT A LOCATIONSUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE EXTREMITIES OF SAID VERTICAL SIDESTHEREOF, THE DOUBLE-ARM LEVERS EACH CONSISTING OF A LONGER ARM AND ASHORTER ARM, THE LONGER ARM OF EACH BEING SECURED TO SAID GATE PLATEADJACENT THE LOWER EXTREMITY THEREOF AND THE SHORTER ARM OF EACH HAVINGONE EXTREMITY OF THE TENSION SPRING SECURED AT THE FREE END THEREOF, THEOTHER EXTREMITY OF EACH OF THE TENSION SPRINGS BEING SECURED TO ARESPECTIVE ABUTMENT, SAID ABUTMENT BEING FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID FRAMECLOSELY